DISINFO: The West reduced the Russian share in global GDP to 3% through colonial exploitation

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

DISINFO: The West reduced the Russian share in global GDP to 3% through colonial exploitation

SUMMARY

For a long time, the West tried to turn Russia into a regular colony. Despite the fact that the prosperity of Western states largely depended on Russia, this country was found guilty of "terrible historical crimes". The West tried to impose a guilt complex on the entire Russian nation. The Western countries, assisted by the Russian comprador bourgeoisie, began to pump out resources from Russia. This situation caused the reduction of the Russian share in the global GDP to 3%.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about a hostile West attempting to encircle, weaken and exploit Russia.

The claim that the West tries to turn Russia into a colony “pumping out” its resources is ungrounded. Russia is an independent player in the global economy and it willingly sells its mineral resources, energy and other commodities at the global market. This has been the business model freely pursued by Russian governments during decades.

The present-day share of Russia in the global GDP is not “3%” but only 1.54% (2020). In 2013, the share of Russia in the global economy reached a record-high 2.55%. Since 2014, as a result of Putin’s illegal annexation of Crimea and military attack on Ukraine, the Russian economy appears in a state of a worsening crisis, so its weight in the global economy keeps reducing.

The main source of the Russian economic problems is not alleged Western “colonialism”, but aggressive and corrupt policies realised by the Kremlin.

The Western aid and assistance in the 1990s helped Russia a lot in its transition from Communist rule towards a free-market economy. What Western nations strive for - both back in the 1990s and now - is a democratic, stable and corruption-free Russia at peace with its neighbours.

See related cases: The US is threatening the security of Russia; Russia's development and stability is being thwarted by the Westand The West is organising information attacks to weaken Russia’s economy.

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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